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Commission on the Status of Women
Maternal Health
Cambodia
Many births are unsuccessful due to contaminated environments and lack of prenatal
care. Efficient prenatal care is essential when dealing with a woman and her child’s health.
“According to WHO in 2005, over 530,000 women die each year from complications related to
or exacerbated by pregnancy” (Obstetric Pathology). The two most significant actions during
pregnancy are to have regular checkups with a doctor and any necessary medical care before the
baby is born. A regular checkup often includes an “internal” exam, an evaluation of the size and
shape of the woman’s uterus, and distribution of a Pap smear. In addition, patients may endure
urine tests, blood pressure checks, and ultrasounds. A woman must be careful as a pregnancy
progresses. Toxoplasmosis is a common, fatal infection that pregnant women may encounter if
raw meat is consumed or if the woman lives near cat litter. It is also significant for a pregnant
woman to eat nourishing foods. This is often difficult to accomplish in countries that lack funds
to grow healthy, non-contaminated foods. Women should notify their healthcare practitioners if
they notice blood or liquid penetrating from the vaginal area, enlargement of the face, fingers, or
feet, prolonged headaches, lack of contractions and excessive vomiting. One of the most
significant problems with proper prenatal healthcare is the lack of clean, fully-staffed medical
centers, especially in third-world countries. Education also plays a large role in prenatal
healthcare, as many women are unaware of alternative possibilities to where and how to deliver a
baby. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated eighty million women
have unwanted pregnancies each year and forty-five million end in abortion. In addition,
obstetric fistula is an increasing global issue. As a result, the United Nations Population Fund is
initiating a worldwide Campaign to End Fistula, with the help of medical counseling and family
planning assistance.
Cambodia has had some difficulty in maintaining health during pregnancies. Although
Cambodia has taken significant measures to decrease the infant mortality rate, it continues to
stay high. “In Cambodia, maternity-related complications are one of the leading causes of death
among women ages fifteen to forty-nine. Fifty-five percent of Cambodian women fail to receive
proper healthcare during pregnancies, which leads to defects or even deaths” (Obstetric
Pathology). Cambodia believes these deaths are the effects of the circumstances that women
choose to live under. For example, the majority of Cambodians deliver their newborns in
unsanitary locations, such as in the house. Although Cambodia provides its country with an
ample amount of obstetric physicians, women often choose to deliver their newborns in the
house. According to a recent study, women deliver at home because they lack money, lack time,
and feel that they should avoid hospitals (Obstetric Pathology).
Education and funds play a significant role in Cambodia’s maternal healthcare. Women
fail to receive knowledge on the varieties of birth control, as well as postpartum care due to lack
of time and money. “Birthrates in educated women are fewer than in non-educated. Sending
women to school thereby reduces the infant mortality rate and national populations. And
educated women make improved mothers, as they know how to better care for, feed, and nourish
their children. Cambodia’s educational system encourages women to avoid premarital sex, which
improves its infant mortality rate” (Why Focus on Educating Girls in Cambodia). Obstetric
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Fistula is another issue in Cambodia, as many women suffer and do not have proper financial
support that allows them to recover. Often, Cambodian women are hesitant to leave their
families in order to regain health.
Cambodia has made consistent attempts in improving national healthcare, especially among
pregnant women. “In 2003, the fertility rate, in Cambodia, declined to approximately four
children per female, representing a decrease of 1.4% over a ten year period. This decline is
linked to better education and better understanding of birth control” (Walsh).
In 2000, the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) launched a program at
the World Education Forum in Dakar, involving the UN Secretary-General Koti Annon. This
program responds to the fact that more than half of the people lacking education are females.
“Its goal is to narrow the gender gap in primary and secondary education and to ensure that by
2015, all children complete primary schooling, with girls and boys having equal access to all
levels of education” (UNGEI). Other objectives include (1) advocating and building strong
relations, (2) developing female education through advocating tools, (3) sharing information,
data, and good practices in order to educate females, and (4) establishing new international links,
while strengthening existing ones. The UNGEI works with Cambodia, China, Lao PDR,
Mangolia, Papua, New Guinea, Thailand, and Vietnam to raise educational standards.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is active in Cambodia, conducting agency activities.
This includes fighting extremely high malnutrition rates with a Mother and Child Health
Programme. Corn-soya blend is distributed to 30,000 children under five years old and 7,500
expectant and nursing women, each month (Where We Work).
In 2002, the UN Secretary-General developed an action plan in order for the world to
achieve specific millennium developmental goals. Goals four and five of the UN Millenium
Project aim toward increasing maternal health and decreasing child mortality (UN Millenium
Project). “The Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) believes that the maternal mortality rate
will decrease by three-quarters between 1990 and 2015” (Obstetric Pathology).
Cambodia sincerely believes that an increase in proper education will decrease the global
infant mortality rate. Cambodia proposes that countries take necessary measures to involve
sexual education and prenatal care into regular education. Cambodia is fully aware that in many
underdeveloped countries, students live significantly far from the regional school and therefore,
dismiss education altogether (Why Focus on Educating Girls in Cambodia). As a result,
Cambodia proposes that non-governmental organizations (NGOs), along with the UNGEI assist
in funding transportation from students’ houses to the schools. Students will globally benefit
from the administration of transportation to schools. In addition, Cambodia suggests the
supplication of local health clinics, as it will assist in improving maternal health. Cambodia
thoroughly believes that when a woman is educated, an investment is made in her future, her
children’s futures, and her community, as a whole.
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Works Cited
"The Obstetric Pathology of Poverty: Maternal Mortality in Kep Province, Cambodia." World
Health and Population Apr. 2007.
"United Nations Girls' Education Initiative." Girls Too! Education for All 2007. 20 Oct. 2007
<http://www.cambodianscholarship.org/faqs/why-girls.asp>.
"UN Millenium Project." Millenium Project. UN Development Group. 2 Oct. 2007
<http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/>.
Walsh, Melanie. Project on Women's Rights in Cambodia. LICADHO-UQAM Partnership.
Montreal: University of Quebec, 2007.
"Where We Work - Cambodia." World Food Programme. 2007. WFP. 1 Nov. 2007
<http://www.wfp.org/country_brief/indexcountry.asp?country=116>.
"Why Focus on Educating Girls in Cambodia?" Cambodian Arts and Scholarship Foundation. 31
Oct. 2007 <http://www.cambodianscholarship.org/faqs/why-girls.asp>.